On 15–17 June, experts from SIPRI’s Governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Programme participated in the first informal United Nations exchanges on AI in the military domain, held in Geneva.
Drawing on a SIPRI topical backgrounder published earlier this year, Dr Alexander Blanchard, Senior Researcher, gave a presentation at a side event co-organized by the UN Institute for Disarmament Research, the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and SIPRI on the role of industry in AI in the military domain. Dr Blanchard discussed the range of actors active in the industry.
Netta Goussac, Senior Researcher, participated as a panellist during the session ‘The Life Cycle of AI in the Military Domain’, which addressed issues related to the sale, procurement, operation and decommissioning of AI applications in the military domain. Her statement, which draws on a SIPRI report on the responsible procurement of AI, is available here.
Dr Vincent Boulanin, Director of the Governance of AI Programme, joined as a panellist for a session on AI and other technologies. The session explored opportunities and risks arising from the convergence of AI with other technologies. Dr Boulanin discussed how the misuse of AI could facilitate the production of weapon systems, including biological and chemical weapons. Dr Boulanin also delivered a statement during a session on the next steps for multilateral dialogue on the topic. The statement, which is available here, sets out three observations on the governance of autonomous weapon systems and the implications of AI for international peace and security.
The event was organized by UNODA and featured opening remarks from Izumi Nakamitsu, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, and representatives of the Netherlands and the Republic of Korea.